RMNP Season 2010

I moved to Estes Park, CO last May and stayed there until mid-August. I spent my summer climbing on the alpine blocs of Rocky Mountain National Park, mainly in Upper Chaos Canyon. The bouldering in RMNP is a more compact form of granite called gneiss. The boulders lie at an elevation of 10,200-10,600 feet, and require a 2-3 mile hike uphill and through talus.

I spent the summer wielding a chainsaw and picking up sticks for Adam’s Tree Service, also known as the world’s strongest tree crew, as far as bouldering goes. Adam’s Tree Service has seen the likes of many strong climbers including Adam Strong (Owner), Phil Schaal, Nick Duttle, Chris Webb-Parsons, Kevin Cuckovich, Justin Alarcon, and many others.

I climbed on many sick boulder problems in Upper Chaos. I climbed a dream boulder problem of mine called Eternia during my time in the park. Eternia is a 20 foot roof climb that starts on an obvious rail and climbs out the cave on crimps, jugs, and underclings to a feet first toe hook finish. It is reminiscent of a Hueco Tanks and Priest Draw hybrid boulder problem on Gneiss at 10,500 feet.

I did a couple of road trips based out of Colorado this summer to avoid the tourists during the holidays in Estes Park. I visited Joe’s Valley over Memorial day weekend and Tensleep Canyon during the Fourth of July.

While I was in Joe’s Valley I met up with Rocco Bocchicchio who showed me some new climbs and projects at the six mile marker. I climbed on this roof he established called Strongbad, which is reminiscent of Rumble In The Jungle. I did some other climbs including a Yuri Kimball FA called Blue Lambo, right on the side of the road by the river. Blue Lambo climbs a beautiful arete with a strange, but fun first move.

During the Fourth of July I checked out the amazing limestone at Tensleep Canyon in Wyoming with fellow Flashed Athlete Ian Dory. The limestone in Tensleep features good movement on really good rock. I climbed some classics including Beer Bong and School’s Out. I tried this awesome climb called Aunt Jemima’s Bisquick Thunderdome, which climbs 2 bolts of technical slab with small holds, to 3 clips of easy slab, to an overhang with two and three finger pockets. Unfortunately we were rained out my last day there, so I didn’t get a chance to finish this climb.